Meet 2025’s top draft prospects: A new Caitlin Clark, Coach Prime’s legacy and another Holliday

Had Mark Twain lived a hundred years later, the quote he popularized about ‘lies, damned lies and statistics’ would have surely included mention of mock drafts. 

Not only are they often baseless, but even on the rare occasion they are rooted in truth, evolving circumstances have a way of delegitimizing even the most earnest of predictions. So for every player thought to be a lock to go first, there is always a looming trade that threatens to reshuffle the deck entirely.

But there are rare occasions when, regardless of who has the first pick, a player is so overwhelmingly talented they cannot be passed over in the name of ‘fit’ or ‘need.’

That was the case in 2024, when the Indiana Fever transformed their franchise by taking Caitlin Clark with the first pick of the WNBA Draft. 

Remarkably, the WNBA has another lock to go first in 2025. For that matter, NBA teams are clamoring for the same budding star, while one baseball family is poised to see another son go first overall. 

The following is DailyMail.com’s look at the presumed top picks of 2025:  

Shedeur Sanders – NFL

Draft dates: April 25-27, 2025 

First pick: TBD

No, Shedeur Sanders doesn’t have his father’s jaw-dropping athleticism, much less Deion’s skills as a baseball player or NCAA track star.

What the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback does have is a quick release and accurate touch that could make him the first pick of April’s NFL Draft – four slots before ‘Neon Deion’ Sanders was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1989.

Shedeur is hardly a lock to go first. Miami quarterback Cam Ward or even Shedeur’s fellow Buffaloes star teammate Travis Hunter could slip into the top spot. But there is no denying that the Buffs signal caller is coveted by quarterback-hungry teams at the bottom of NFL standings.

‘You won’t find a tougher or more resilient quarterback prospect than Sanders, who has taken 90 sacks over the past two seasons but still puts up really strong numbers,’ wrote ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., who has long touted Sanders as a potential top pick.

‘I’m always impressed watching him throw on the move, rolling either left or right. He is very accurate in those spots and has the arm to drive the ball.’

The numbers agree.

After playing for his father for two years at Jackson State, Shedeur has been sensational since transferring to Colorado when his father accepted the job in Boulder ahead of the 2023 season.

Last year he tossed for 27 touchdowns while completing 69.3 percent of his passes. And this season, with the Buffaloes improved to 8-3, Shedeur has 35 touchdown passes on 74.2-percent accuracy.

He may not be high-stepping into the end zone like dad, but Shedeur looks to be every bit the prospect his Hall-of-Fame father once was.

Ethan Holliday – MLB

Draft dates: July 13-15, 2025

First pick: Washington Nationals

First there were brothers Peyton and Eli Manning in the NFL; then there were sisters Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike in the WNBA.

Now, if Ethan Holliday can continue his assault on high school pitchers in Oklahoma, Major League Baseball could have its first pair of siblings to both be drafted first overall.

It was just three years ago that Ethan’s brother Matt was taken first by the Baltimore Orioles and he’s since batted .189 over his first 190 Major League games in 2024. Next season, the O’s will be looking for a dramatic improvement from the 21-year-old middle infielder as he’s expected to assume a starting, everyday role in 2025.

And Ethan may not be far behind.

The second of retired All-Star slugger Matt Holliday’s four children, Ethan attends the same high school in Stillwater Oklahoma that his father and brother both went to before him. And like Jackson, Ethan, too, is an infielder, only a considerably larger one than his 6-foot-1 older sibling.

The left-handed-hitting 17-year-old already stands 6-foot-4 – and he could still be growing. That puts Ethan more in line with his burly father’s frame, which could translate to better power numbers.

‘Holliday may have the most usable left-handed power in the Draft and he generates it with little effort,’ reads a MLB.com scouting report. ‘Still adding to his 6-foot-4 frame, he already has plenty of strength and an easy left-handed swing with plenty of bat speed and leverage.

‘He tried to do too much when he got pitched around on the circuit last summer, leading to some swing-and-miss concerns, but he should develop into at least an average hitter with 35-homer pop and plenty of walks.’

Ethan is not guaranteed to be the top pick, and should face stiff competition from Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette or Florida State pitcher Jamie Arnold.

Cooper Flagg – NBA Draft

Draft dates: June, TBA

First pick: TBD

Officially, there are just two NBA players ever to have been born in Maine, according to Basketball Reference: reserve Nets and Magic forward Jeff Turner, who was ultimately raised in Florida, and current Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson, who moved across the state line to New Hampshire at a young age.

But the country’ 23rd state is making up for lost time with Duke freshman sensation Cooper Flagg. The native Mainer has been so good, the NBA’s annual tank-a-thon for the rights to the first pick at May’s draft lottery has been redubbed ‘Capture the Flagg’ this season.

A native of the inland part of the state, Flagg began high school in Maine before transferring to Florida’s Montverde Academy, where he played three seasons for legendary coach Kevin Boyle – the same man who helped mold future NBA stars like Kyrie Irving and Scottie Barnes.

Although his 6-foot-9 frame would suggest otherwise, Flagg is just 17, having reclassified after his sophomore season of high school to get a jump on entering the college game and the NBA Draft next June. (Flagg’s twin, Ace, has committed to play at Maine next season after completing his final year at Montverde)

Despite his youth, Flagg has impressed against the Blue Devils’ formidable opponents. He had an off night in a 75-72 loss to top-ranked Kansas, scoring just 13 points, but bounced back in an upset win over second-ranked Auburn, scoring 22 points and adding 11 rebounds.

For the season Flagg is averaging more than 16 points and eight rebounds a game, although his shooting could use some considerable work both inside and beyond the 3-point arc.

But the best part of Flagg’s resume was compiled in Las Vegas last summer, where he played against NBA competition for the first time as a member of the USA Basketball Select Team.

While helping to train Team USA’s Olympic squad for the Paris Games, Flagg impressed many in attendance with his natural-born skills and his feel for the game.

‘He kicked butt here,’ said U.S. select team coach Jamahl Mosley, who also serves as head coach of the Magic. ‘There’s a respect factor for what he’s done. People who have not seen him play, as he gets himself going within the game, they quickly see what he can do.’

‘He wants it,’ All-Star Suns guard Devin Booker said. ‘I know this experience, he’s going to take with him and move forward.’

While Flagg seems like an obvious choice for the top pick, there remains a possibility he could be passed over for one of two Rutgers freshman: Forward Ace Bailey or point guard Dylan Harper, the son of retired NBA All-Star Ron Harper.

Paige Bueckers – WNBA Draft

Draft date: April 14

First pick: Dallas Wings

Caitlin Clark, the first pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft, helped to transform the league into must-watch TV.

Now, after setting attendance and viewership records this season, the WNBA is on the verge of adding another elite point guard: Connecticut’s Paige Bueckers.

Although Clark beat Bueckers to the WNBA, it was the Connecticut star who was the bigger recruit out of high school in Minnesota, where she was friends with fellow McDonald’s All-American and future Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs.

What’s more, Bueckers was ranked first overall over Clark, Angel Reese and Cameron Brink before choosing UConn, where Clark had once hoped to play.

Since then, she’s earned AP Player of the Year and Naismith Player of the Year honors over a decorated college career that’s been marred only by the serious knee injury that cost her most of her sophomore season.

This season the 6-foot guard is averaging 20.6 a game (UPDATE THIS) while making a remarkable 58.4 percent of her field goals.

More importantly, the Huskies are 10-1 on the season (ADD SOMETHING ON HER GAME AGAINST JUJU) and are clearly back in the national-championship picture as coach Geno Auriemma’s personal title drought hits nine years.

But it hasn’t been all good news for Bueckers, who is expected to be picked first overall by the Dallas Wings this spring. The 22-year-old was targeted by a stalker back in August. The man was arrested by Connecticut police at the time and has since been given a one-year suspended sentence and three years of probation.

James Hagens – NHL Draft

Draft dates: June, TBA

First pick: TBD

The hardest draft to predict will be the NHL’s, where no clear-cut prospect has won over scouts.

That’s not to say there’s a dearth of talent, though.

For instance, 6-foot-3 right winger Porter Martone has scored 21 goals in 26 games for his junior club in the Ontario Hockey League. A native of Mississauga – a city abutting Toronto that has produced hockey greats like legendary Maple Leafs goalie Jonny Bower, title-winning Bruins coach Don Cherry, and current NHL All-Star John Tavares – the 18-year-old Martone is already getting noticed.

‘He’s got a pro game and frame,’ wrote The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler. ‘He’s a good skater who goes to the net, finishes his check, handles the puck smoothly for his size, and can be quite noticeable in possession when he’s playing with confidence and intention.’

But the more intriguing prospect may be James Hagens, a Long Island native who’s getting hot for Boston College.

After a slow start to the season, The former Team USA U18 star caught fire in late November, registering four goals and five assists over a four-game span for the title-hungry Eagles.

‘He has a dynamic combination of skating and skill reminiscent of players like Logan Cooley and Jack Hughes who have recently come through the program,’ Corey Pronman wrote about Hagens for The Athletic in October. ‘Hagens’ edge work is high-end and he’s extremely elusive in open ice.

‘He makes a ton of difficult plays on the move and is an elite playmaker. Hagens isn’t that big, but he competes and shows courage to get to the net to create chances. He has the potential to be a play-driving No. 1 center in the NHL.’

Another player to keep an eye on is Swedish defenseman Anton Frondell, who could be a major upgrade for an NHL team looking to add a natural puck handler and passer from the blue line.